Michael Barclay
Bamidbar and Shavuot: The Wilderness & The Wedding
Many of our Sages from RaMBaM to Rebbe Schneerson recommended viewing current events through a filter of understanding the Torah portion...
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Michael Barclay
- May 26, 2022
Memorial Day is a Jewish Holiday Too
In the 1890s, Mark Twain wrote an article about how Jews did not serve in the military of the United States. In response to that, 63....
Michael Barclay
- May 19, 2022
Behar: Resting for Success
This week’s Torah portion of Behar (Lev. 25:1-26:2) focuses almost entirely on the importance of the Sabbath.
Michael Barclay
- May 12, 2022
Emor: Ethical Leadership Through Service
This week’s commentary is dedicated to the memory of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai...
Michael Barclay
- May 5, 2022
Kedoshim: To Bring Holiness Into the World
Often called “the holiness code”, this week’s Torah reading is, in some ways, the very essence of Judaism.
Michael Barclay
- Apr 28, 2022
Rabbi Barclay Torah Commentary in The Jewish Journal
And Aaron shall place lots upon the two he goats: one lot “For the Lord,” and the other lot, “For Azazel.”
–Lev. 16:8
Michael Barclay
- Apr 22, 2022
Achrei/Mot: Don’t Worry, Be Happy!
Joy is a Jewish theological imperative, and as we conclude the Passover holiday and count the days until Shavuot, it is so, so important...
Michael Barclay
- Apr 14, 2022
A Holy Passover
As we prepare for the Passover Seder, it is easy to learn so many hidden secrets and Kabbalistic understandings that we lose track of...
Michael Barclay
- Apr 7, 2022
Shabbat HaGadol: A Time of Faith, Action, and Community
The Shabbat immediately preceding Passover is called “Shabbat HaGadol”, “the big Sabbath”.
Michael Barclay
- Mar 31, 2022
Tazria: The Leprosy of Gossip
“Life and Death are in the Hands of the Tongue” (Proverbs 18:21)
Michael Barclay
- Mar 24, 2022
Shemini: We Are What We Eat
I once heard an eager student ask Rabbi Ronnie Serr how he should go about becoming more observant.
Michael Barclay
- Mar 17, 2022
Purim & St. Patty’s Day
On the eve of March 16, Jews around the world begin the celebration of Purim...
Michael Barclay
- Mar 15, 2022
Purim – A Jewish Path for Addiction Recovery
All the Festivals will be annulled in future time except for Purim” Midrash Mishlei 9:2
Michael Barclay
- Mar 10, 2022
VaYikra - To Answer the Call
This week’s Torah reading are the first chapters of the Book of Leviticus…
Michael Barclay
- Mar 3, 2022
Pekudei: Eternal Change Through Physical Shifts
In this final reading in the Book of Exodus, there are two important biblical concepts that are as important today as they were over 3000...
Michael Barclay
- Feb 25, 2022
Vayakhel: Building a Holy Community on Individual Effort
“Do not regard anyone with contempt, and do not reject anything, for there is no man who does not have his hour and nothing which does...
Michael Barclay
- Feb 17, 2022
Ki Tisa: Stepping Towards Forgiveness
Idolatry. Sexual immorality. Murder. The description of the events of the Golden Calf in this week’s portion sound like the outline for...
Michael Barclay
- Feb 11, 2022
Tetzaveh: To Divine From the Heart
The Urim and Thummim are something that is rarely discussed in the Reform Jewish world, although they have great importance both...
Michael Barclay
- Feb 4, 2022
Terumah: How To Give a Gift
The first two lines of this Torah reading teach a valuable lesson we all need to remember in personal relationships: how to give a gift.
Michael Barclay
- Jan 28, 2022
Mishpatim: Surrendering to Our True Selves
In the “Ahavat Olam” prayer chanted before the recitation of the Shema, we thank God for “laws and statutes” (chukim u’mishpatim).
©2024 Temple Ner Simcha
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